May 12 – May 24, 2028

subject to change without prior notice, at the discretion of cruise director and captain Day 1: Arrive to the ILIKE in Ambon port Day 2: Ambon Bay Day 3: Pulau Suanggi Day 4: Nusa Laut Day 5: Banda Neira/Banda Api Day 6: Manuk Island Day 7: Nil Desparandum/Serua Day 8: Nil Desperandum/Dusborg Day 9: Damar Island Day 10: Nyata/Reong Island/Wetar Island Day 11: Alor Pantar Strait (Pulau Buya/Takpala Village Day) Day 12: Alor Pantar Strait (Kalabahi/Pura Island) Day 12: Disembark Alor port We start our trip in Ambon, the capital of the Maluku’s province. It is the most populated city in the area and its phenomenal muck diving is considered as one of the best in the world. The city is spit by an enormous Bay, that since recently is connected by a bridge. Cuttlefish, seahorses, octopus and many other critters find their home in this deep Bay. It is muck diving in its purest state. One of the most famous dive site is Twilight in Laha village. As the name says it feels like twilight even in broad daylight. You may first wonder why your guide brought you here, but than a whole new world opens to you. Creatures that you have never seen before or even knew existed. Here we can find such critters as a harlequin shrimp or hairy frogfish, flamboyant cuttlefish, seahorses, mototi, hairy, starry, wonderpus are just a few of the many different species of octopus you can find here. Biggest highlights are rhinopias or the elusive psychedelic frog fish, other than in Bali it is never found anywhere else in the world. Don’t forget the beautiful coral gardens found outside the Bay. There is a huge natural rock bridge, called, Pintu Kota. It is covered in beautiful and colourful soft corals, with great marine life. Nusa Laut incredible diving as Ahmed the small village that protects the area against illegal fishing does a great job conserving this area. Big schools of jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, spanish mackerel, but there is also chance for big pelagics. The Banda Sea is spectacular as it is very remote due to its location and possibility of rougher seas. Crystal clear waters, bottomless dropoffs, colorful coral pinnacles and so much more. We offer you the opportunity to visit the old historic town of Banda Neira. Here you will find many remains of the Dutch and English spice trade. We will visit an old nutmeg plantation and have a little taste of how you can make great use of this famous spice that once was believed to cure the plague. The fort Belgica offers great views of the port and Gunung Api. Gunung Api is an active volcano, but is most famous for its population of sea snakes and seabirds. The birds will come and greet you far before you reach the island. From the moment you jump in you are surrounded by sea snakes. They are very friendly and will leave you alone to enjoy the dramatic lava formations in this unique underwater location. Huge barrel sponges, sea wipes, sea fans, hard and soft corals. We have been very lucky to spot hammerheads here during their migration in autumn. Manuk is another active volcano with many seabirds and sea snakes, very similar to Gunung Api only a little smaller. Hundreds of sea snakes will accompany you on this dive while you enjoy the lava ridges covered in coral. Keep your eyes open for big pelagic. With Serua Island from September to November is known as migrations areas for Hammerheads sharks. Nil Desperandum is an underwater seamount rising from the depths to about 3 meters below the surface right in the middle of Banda Sea. Besides the unspoiled coral encounters with the bigger pelagic tuna, rainbow runners, spanish mackerel. In Damar, Terbang Selatan and Terbang Utara deserted islands we find steep walls and the most pristine coral garden on top of the reef. Wetar island has spectacular drop offs, walls covered in black coral bushes with massive barrel sponges. Alor is famous for great diversity, from vertical coral walls to sloping gardens covered in anemones for miles. We can dive an active volcano where you can see hot air bubbles coming from the rocks. Because we are in the Pantar Strait that brings lots of nutrients, we can also expect to see some dolphins or even whales welcoming us into the bay. Kalabahi bay in West Alor, has world class muck diving in the bay, many different ghost pipefish hide in the mucky bottom, many nudi’s and all families of scorpion fish even the elusive rhynopia commonly spotted here.